China’s central bank has approved foreign exchange purchases for commercial banks to fund increased gold import quotas, according to two sources familiar with the matter. This move comes alongside other stimulus measures, including interest rate cuts and liquidity injections, as China works to offset economic damage from the U.S. trade war. The increased gold imports could help meet growing demand for the precious metal while simultaneously slowing the yuan’s appreciation, which has been rising as investors move money out of U.S. assets. Gold recently reached an all-time high of $3,500 per ounce amid trade tensions, with China’s central bank also increasing its own gold reserves for the sixth consecutive month.

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Americans Are Struggling and Markets Are Noticing
After weeks of data blackout, the picture isn’t pretty. Jobless claims show a cooling labor market while consumer sentiment crashes to near-record lows. Credit card delinquencies just hit 15-year highs with Americans carrying $1.2 trillion in debt. The S&P 500 faces its longest losing streak since August. Meanwhile, wealthy investors are leasing out gold bars for yield. Today’s Nuggets explore the cracks in the consumer economy and how smart money is responding.




